Sale Pending – it looks like someone is ready to take the plunge on this one – a deposit is in the mail! I will keep you posted on this car, and hopefully be able to post photos of the restoration as it progresses! – Chuck
I have had alot of interest in this project, but so far, no one has taken the plunge. This is probably due to the fact that it really is a “come and get it” type of project, and the weather has been HORRIBLE here – lots of snow. A couple of different shops that build and sell E-Types have shown great interest, so that could change fast – they usually call and say something like, “Hey – what is your schedule like tomorrow? I want to come get that roadster project.”
Also, the fact that there are no photos is daunting for alot of people, and so I will try to get some when things warm up a bit, but like I have told many people, “If I go to all the trouble to pull it all back here and arrange it into a pile that resembles an E-Type, the price goes up!” I could see a photo shoot taking me a full day, and I am already working 7 days (and nights) a week!
In the meantime, I continue to gather up parts to make this more complete – since I first posted this, I have added an excellent pair of Series 1 door latches for the doors and body, and also the complete air trumpet, snorkel, and air cleaner setup – also in great shape!
Make no mistake – this is a basket case and it needs alot of work. But I honestly believe that time is running out to get into a Series 1 roadster project – at any price. Give me a ring if you’re interested – because another problem is developing – the ore parts I gather for it, the more I want to keep it for myself! – Chuck
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Here is a new E-Type “project car” that I just put up for sale on the “E-Types For Sale & Wanted” page. I guess this is part of my latest effort to slim things down a bit around here, and get more organized and streamlined – I NEED SPACE! – if I don’t get moved into the new shop this year I’m going to go crazy!
1962 Open Two-Seater – AVAILABLE!
This one is beginning to come together as a complete project, and so it’s time to put it on here and start out finding her a good home. There are not any photos, as this exists currently as several “piles” and a checklist of what I do and do not have. I’d jump on it if you’re interested, though, as I don’t expect a 3.8 roadster project to last long – they are almost IMPOSSIBLE to find now!
This car is another example of “parting out in reverse” – being assembled from pieces of several incomplete projects we have taken in over the years. This one finally hit “critical mass” lately so that we can now piece together the complete car.
Build date of the chassis number is July 1st, 1962 – it is a non-numbers matching project. I do not have a title but the chassis number is clean – I may be able to get a title for it, or I could sell with a bill of sale only. Includes:
- Body Shell – Restorable body shell – currently in two halves, but those halves are solid where it counts! You will need the usual – full floors, inner and outer sills, boot floor, etc. – BUT…
- NEW Panels! – Project will include EVERY SINGLE body panel that we make here that the restoration of the body shell requires – NEW! Including, but not limited to: all sill closing panels and gussets, new crossmember, rear lower bulkhead, all tunnel panels, heater box repair panels, aluminum engine and radiator shields, etc.
- Doors & Decklid – Restorable OTS doors (project will include NEW door skins and lower door shell repair panels) and hinges, very good decklid and hinges (and latches), and perfect OTS fuel lid and hinge.
- Series 1 Bonnet – Restorable bonnet pieces – excellent center section and wings, solid inner valances and lower valance, and all NEW inner panels and flanges.
- Top Frame – Complete and correct Series 1 convertible top (hood) frame in good restorable condition. Includes latches, mounts, and original hardtop brackets.
- Engine – Free-turning, rebuildable 3.8 engine. Includes correct E-Type oil sump, baffle, and pickup, E-type oil filter housing, smooth cam covers in good condition, 3.8 flywheel, etc.
- Triple Carbs – Complete and correct 3.8 E-Type intake manifold, carburetors (E-Type HD8’s), and linkage setup
- Exhaust – E-Type exhaust manifolds
- Suspension – Complete front and rear E-Type suspension in good condition – third member is tight 3.54:1 positraction unit
- Steering – Correct, Straight and restorable manual steering rack, plus the correct solid steering column/shaft up to the firewall with both knuckles
- Frame rails – Complete engine frame set (condition is questionable on side frames) with original picture frame with this number stamped, and good bonnet carrier bracket
- Brakes – Complete 3.8 E-type braking system – pedal box with bellows, front and rear calipers, handbrake calipers, handbrake lever, reservoir bottles, etc.
- Instruments – Complete dash assembly with all gauges and switches
- Interior – Complete dot-pattern aluminum pieces with NEW steel center console, 3.8 radio console, ashtray, etc., aluminum dot radio, shifter, and center console pieces, etc.
- Lighting – all 4 signal lamp assemblies (rears are correct roadster units) with good lenses, complete reverse lamp assembly, interior lamp assembly, and covered headlamp chrome (no headlamp glass…)
- Chrome – Most chrome, good outer and inner door and window handles, motif bar, rear bonnet grill, SOME bumpers and over-riders, etc.
- Accessories – Original and correct glass washer bottle with motor and bracket, complete wiper setup including motor (dated 10-61), linkage, rack, and arms, also correct early style Series 1 heater assembly.
What’s missing currently. Here are the “major” pieces that are currently “missing” – but if you read on, you’ll see that most of them are things that you ALWAYS buy new, or you DO NOT want anyway for a car you intend to drive. If you prefer the original components, I can dig them up from one of many sources I have for used parts:
- Steering – I do have the steering rack, and now have the correct column as well with the knuckles on both ends. I do NOT currently have the upper column, or a steering wheel. I basically just haven’t run across any in my travels. I can probably dig this up, though…
- Seats – I do not have a pair of 3.8 OTS seats, but I CAN make them new and the used ones are ALWAYS rusted out anyway… I need a good excuse to pattern and form them up anyway.
- Wheels and tires – you’re going to buy new wheels and tires, and this is currently all apart, so you don’t need those…
- Fuel Tank – they’re never any good, and it’s IN THE CAR WITH YOU – I always recommend purchasing this new.
- Windshield – another thing you’re just not going to find in good used condition after 50 years – also something you always buy new.
- Transmission and Bellhousing – I can get either a 3.8 or a 4.2 original trans. OR – you can purchase the project as-is with no transmission and you can perform the 5-speed upgrade of your choice. I DO have the correct 3.8 driveshaft.
- Radiator – I do have access to my choice of 2 original Marston aluminum radiators, and I can get the 3.8 header tank and bracket as well. OR – I recommend buying all of this stuff new – purchase the project without these components and upgrade to an aftermarket aluminum radiator – also highly recommended.
- Generator – if you really want the original 3.8 generator, I can dig one up. Otherwise, I’d go with a more reliable alternator.
- Door internals – I DO have all of this – including the glass, but it is Series 2… That means that the glass and window channels are correct, the window regulators are correct but take the wrong style handle (I can probably modify these without too much fuss…), and the door latching mechanisms are incorrect (although I do have a line on some Series 1 latches). This is not a big deal and we can figure this out…
SO – pretty complete, but all apart. One thing that I do want to point out is that I have tried to put this together “right” – meaning that the pieces are correct for the chassis number of the car – an early 3.8 roadster (or else they are close enough to be modified with my help). This is NOT some hodge-podge of parts from Automatic Series 2 2+2’s slapped together to LOOK like a 3.8 roadster…
If you’re up to the challenge, everything you need is there to build a 3.8 roadster – if you don’t see it listed above, just ask! There are undoubtedly a few bits missing here and there, but my intention here is to provide something as complete as possible, so if I have it, it’s yours.
If you call or write and sound serious, I can start pulling things together and take photos of the components – but once this all gets semi-assembled into a pile that looks like an E-Type, the price goes up – get in the game now while it’s still in the “pre-assembly” stage!
